LEAF DIAGNOSTICS FOR OPTIMIZATION OF NUTRITION OF WINTER SPELT PLANTS IN POLISSYA

Abstract

Spelt wheat (Triticum spelta L.) is a fairly common crop in organic farming in the European Unionand Ukraine. It has high grain quality and is more suitable for organic cultivation than soft wheat.The article presents the results of functional leaf diagnostics of winter spelt in order to optimize plant nutrition in Polissya. Field research was carried out with spelta varieties in the conditions of sod-podzolic sandy loam soils of Galeks Agro PE during 2021–2024. The humus content in the experimental plots was 1,53%, the soil pH (salt) was 5,3. The methods used in the research were field, laboratory and comparative-calculated. The study of leaves shows whether the plants receive the optimal levelof necessary nutrients and whether changes in the fertilization system are needed. It was found that in the variant without fertilizers (2022), plants of the spelta variety Zorya Ukrayiny had a medium lack of potassium and a high lack of sulfur, which should be compensated by appropriate fertilizer rates. With the inclusion of Physio Natur PKS 47 Bio, the spelta plants were provided with nutrients, except for a slight lack of zinc and cobalt, which does not affect the further development of the plants. According to the leaf diagnostics, the plants of the Attergauer Dinkel variety needed both macro and microelements in the unfertilized areas. In the fertilized variant, the plants were fully supplied with the necessary nutrients. A similar pattern in the results of leaf diagnostics in unfertilized areas was obtained during 2023. Plants of the Zorya Ukrayiny variety required an additional 168 g/ha of manganese and 140 g/ha of iron. The plants of the Attergauer Dinkel variety had an average supply of sulfur and boron and a lack of magnesium, zinc, manganese and iron.